It is evident that the world is immersed in a transition towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources. In this scenario, batteries play a fundamental role, either in the technological field in general or as drivers of electric mobility.
and, although lithium batteries have topped the list of options, their use raises legitimate questions and concerns, from input scarcity to related ethical issues. such as the extraction of minerals such as cobalt.
In the midst of these challenges and the constant search for innovation, the sodium batteries are emerging as a promising alternative.
Why sodium batteries?
Sodium batteries are becoming established as a sustainable and improved option, since it is an abundant and easily accessible element. This makes them an environmentally friendly option from the point of view of resource availability.
Just as it tells Computer Todaya group of researchers led by the University of Sydney designed a sodium battery with higher storage capacity to that of lithium-ion batteries, and is also much cheaper to produce due to the materials required.
“Our sodium battery can dramatically reduce costs and quadruple storage capacity. “This advance is significant for the development of renewable energies, which, although they reduce long-term costs, have faced financial barriers.”
— Dr. Shenlong Zhao, study director
Leading companies in the mobility and energy storage industry, such as Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), the world’s largest manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for vehicles, have already begun to explore the potential of sodium batteries.
In fact, CATL recently announced the development of the first sodium battery Designed specifically for electric vehicles. Other manufacturers, such as Cherry and BYDare also working on the development of these batteries for their electric vehicles.
Along with them, other companies such as Farasis Energy, HiNa Battery Technology and Svolt are collaborating with important partners in the sector to bring sodium batteries to the market.
Transform a problem into an opportunity
The adoption of sodium batteries is not limited only to electric vehicles, since, due to its larger size and weight Compared to lithium, they are ideal for grid-scale storage applications, playing a crucial role in managing intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.